The Sixers selected a long, lanky perimeter player, who measures in at 6-8 and weighs 208 pounds with the 15th overall pick in Thursday's NBA draft.

Maurice Harkless has what Sixers president Rod Thorn termed "tremendous upside". Those two words are a draft night buzz kill when fans are looking for their team to add to its roster a player that fills a gaping hole.

Leading up to draft night the belief was that the Sixers were going after an athletic big man who can rebound and defend. In his lone college season at St. John's, Harkless averaged 15 points and 8.6 rebounds playing the power forward position.

The Philadelphia 76ers announced tonight that they have selected swingman Maurice Harkless with the 15th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. Harkless was an early entry candidate for the draft following his freshman season at St. Johnís.

Harkless (6-8, 208) was named Big East Rookie of the Year after averaging 15.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.4 blocks while shooting 45.2% from the floor. He ranked sixth in the nation in scoring among freshman and second in rebounding.

The freshman started all 32 games for the Red Storm last season, scoring in double-figures 26 times, including seven games with 20-plus points. Harkless had a career-high 32 points on 14-of-17 shooting vs. Providence and tallied 30 points and 13 rebounds at Duke. Overall, he recorded 11 double-doubles.

Harkless, who turned 19 last month, is from New York City and spent his senior year of high school at South Kent in Connecticut. As a senior, he averaged 27.2 points, 13.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 3.1 blocks and 1.6 steals. Harkless earned Most Valuable Player honors at the 2011 Kobe Bryant Classic held in Philadelphia.